So what does the group recommend to us OSX users as far as viral
protection?
Maybe Ward at MacTown will give the group a discount? I won't hold my
breath, though, Ward!
Ray White
Neff Packaging Solutions
1700 Watterson Trail
Louisville, KY 40299
Tel: 502-491-1820 ext.330
Fax: 502-491-7701
www.neffpackaging.com
Jonathan Fletcher
<jfletch at newmediaconstco.com> To:
macgroup at erdos.math.louisville.edu
Sent by: cc:
owner-macgroup at erdos.math.lou Subject:
MacGroup: Re: macgroup-digest V2 #788
isville.edu
03/22/2005 07:09 PM
Please respond to macgroup
Reminds me of this perspective I saw on SiliconValley.com today:
"Please update your virus definitions. Your current definitions detect
1 virus. Norton 70321h detects and removes 2. It's only a matter of
time before Mac OS X begins to fall prey to malware with increasing
frequency. This according to the astonishingly self-serving Symantec
Internet Security Threat Report, a document that says far more about
the looming vulnerabilities in Symantec's business model than it does
about those in Apple's operating system. Clearly, Microsoft's recent
foray into Windows AntiSpyware and malware realms has so unsettled the
company that it felt compelled to pre-announce the market for Norton
Internet Security 3.0 and its other largely unnecessary Mac products.
Get a load of this: "Generally speaking, the Macintosh operating system
has been relatively immune to malicious activity, particularly compared
to other operating systems like Linux and Microsoft. With the
introduction and popularity of Mac OS X, however, Apple has become a
target for new attacks and vulnerabilities. Mac OS X has begun to not
only capture the attention of users but of vulnerability researchers as
well. Symantec believes that as the popularity of Apple's new platform
continues to grow, so too will the number of attacks directed at it."
Well yes, of course. Generally speaking, as an operating system's
market share grows, it garners a bit more attention from malware
authors. Any underwit can see that. But let's be honest, it's going to
be years before OS X can reach the standard set by Windows in this
category. There have been 37 vulnerabilities in Mac OS X in the past
year, all of which were quickly and efficiently patched (none were
exploited because OS X requires a root password before it will install
new software). Compare that to the 17,500 Windows-based viruses and
threats that made it into the wild last year and it puts Symantec's
call to the barricades in perspective."
j.
On Mar 22, 2005, at 5:15 PM, macgroup-digest wrote:
> Date: Tue, 22 Mar 2005 13:25:46 -0800
> From: "Rex Baldazo" <Rex.Baldazo at cnet.com>
> Subject: MacGroup: OS X to be an increasing target for hackers
>
> Symantec says that with OS X rising in popularity, it has started
> coming
> into the crosshairs of computer virus writers:
>
> http://news.com.com/2100-7349_3-5630481.html
>
> Of course you gotta take it with a grain of salt, since Symantec has a
> vested interest in convincing you to buy their Mac anti-virus product.
>
> - --- Rex.
>
--
Jonathan Fletcher
jfletch at newmediaconstco.com
NewMedia Construction Co.
MacTown Softworks
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